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It's a business...
Which means you will have to be a businessman.
First, your business has to be noticed.
Second, it has to produce something that people are willing to pay for.
Third, you have to encourage them to come back, and buy again.
None of the bedrock ideas are dependent on I.P. They apply for every business.
If you can get noticed, (a big if in a low barrier-to-entry business), you have to provide what the customer wants, in a way the customer wants it. If that is free, then you have to find some value-added way of getting people to pay you some money. It may or may not be connected with your product. Here are some ideas...
Autographed and personalized e-book. You can get a pirate for free, but a handwritten (scanned) personalization to you for .99 cents...(and it's worthless to somebody else who's not named you...)
Sell character names to fans. For my next novel, if you want to be a character in it, you can be one for only X dollars (payable in advance). You want to be a bigger character? Fill out this personality profile so I can write with you in mind. (And provide any personal catchphrases and when you would use them.) Available at $10X or all the market will bear. (Maybe an auction?)
You the purchaser might have a piece of your handwriting in the book tied to a character (plot-dependent, of course). (A ransom note from a bad guy, for example.)
Keep a file of you customer's e-mail addresses. Let them know when somethings coming up in your business, like a new character list to fill. (Money, money!) Use the fan list to have a fan party occasionally (meet the author.)
Finally, be creative. You're a creative writer, aren't you? Create your own marketing ideas...
If you haven't been noticed, none of this will work. You've got to be noticed first!!!!!
RSE
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